Scherr tabbed to head new hockey conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The National Collegiate Hockey Conference introduced Jim Scherr as its first commissioner Wednesday, putting the former U.S. Olympic Committee CEO in charge of an eight-team conference that begins play in 2013.

Scherr will oversee a conference formed when college hockey started realigning after the Big Ten decided to form a hockey conference and take longtime WCHA members Minnesota and Wisconsin. Other WCHA members, including Colorado College and Denver, banded together to form the NCHC. Other teams include Miami (Ohio), Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan.

Scherr served as CEO of the USOC from 2003 through 2009, when he was unexpectedly ousted. He will remain in Colorado Springs, where the conference is headquartered, and will step down as CEO of the company he started, 776 Original Marketing.